John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has set down the timeframes within which the Private Security Authority must deal with applications and appeals; if so, the details of this; if she monitors the efficiency and response times of this authority; the number of applications and appeals dealt with by the authority since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4899/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Authority is an independent body under the aegis of the Department of Justice and Equality. My Department has no role in the administration of applications received by the Authority. The timeframe for processing applications is a matter for which the Authority has sole responsibility.

I am informed by the Authority, that since licensing was introduced in 2006, it has received over 130,000 licence applications from individuals and almost 5,000 contractor applications. The average processing time for an individual application in 2015 was 43 days for a first time applicant and 26 days for an applicant renewing a licence. Contractor applications averaged 40 days for first time applicants and 13 days for renewal applicants. The processing time is calculated from the date on which an application is received to the date on which a determination is made on the application.

The Authority has advised me that a number of factors can contribute to time needed to process a licence application, including the time it takes to have an applicant vetted by An Garda Síochána. Another factor is whether an applicant has submitted all required supporting documentation or whether the Authority may need to revert to the applicant for further information.

The Authority has also informed me that it is currently investing in a new on-line application system which should help to reduce the processing times in 2016.

In relation to the separate issue of appeals, the Private Security Appeal Board was established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, to hear and determine appeals against decisions of the Authority. The Appeal Board is independent in the performance of its functions and is independent of the Authority.

Statistics in respect of applications for appeals to the Private Security Appeal Board for the past five years are set out in the following table: